CN106574858B

CN106574858B - Magnetic-inductive flow measuring device with a plurality of measuring electrode pairs and different measuring tube cross sections

Info

Publication number: CN106574858B
Application number: CN201580042131.9A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 托马斯·孔; 贡特尔·巴赫尔; 弗兰克·沃伊特
Original assignee: Endress and Hauser Flowtec AG
Current assignee: Endress and Hauser Flowtec AG
Priority date: 2014-08-04
Filing date: 2015-07-31
Publication date: 2020-02-28
Anticipated expiration: 2035-07-31
Also published as: DE102014111047B4; EP3177897B1; EP3177897A1; CN106574858A; DE102014111047A1; WO2016020277A1; US20170219399A1

Abstract

An apparatus (1) for measuring fluid flow using magnetic induction measurement principles, comprising: a measuring tube (3) having at least two segments (11,11 ') adjoining one another in the flow direction of the fluid, wherein the diameters and/or the geometry of the cross-sectional areas of the segments (11, 11') differ; at least one magnet system (9, 9') having at least two coils for generating a magnetic field (10) directed essentially perpendicular to the flow direction of the fluid; at least two measuring electrode pairs (8,8 ') for sensing induced voltages, wherein at least one measuring electrode pair (8) is arranged in a first section (11) and a second measuring electrode pair (8') is arranged in a second section (11 '), wherein each measuring electrode pair (8, 8') comprises a first and a second measuring electrode, wherein the measuring electrodes are opposite to each other in or on a measuring tube and the respective connecting lines of the measuring electrodes are perpendicular to the tube axis and to the magnetic field (10); and an electronic unit for signal recording and/or evaluation and for coil powering, wherein the electronic unit (6) is embodied such that it determines the flow velocity and/or flow rate of the fluid of at least one segment (11, 11') from the induced voltage.

Description

Magnetic-inductive flow measuring device with a plurality of measuring electrode pairs and different measuring tube cross sections

Technical Field

The invention relates to a device and a method for measuring the flow of a fluid flowing through a measuring tube using the magnetic induction measuring principle.

Background

Magnetic-inductive flow measuring devices are widely used in process and automatic control technology in the case of fluids having a conductivity of, for example, 5 mus/cm. Corresponding flow measuring devices are sold, for example, by the applicant under the trademark proag, in most variants of the embodiments of the various fields of application.

The magnetic induction measurement principle is based on the faraday magnetic induction principle and is known from a number of publications. A magnetic field of constant strength over time is generated essentially perpendicularly to the flow direction of the induction fluid by a magnet system fixed to the measuring tube segments. In this way, ions present in the flowing fluid are turned in opposite directions according to their charge. The voltage resulting from this charge separation is sensed by at least one measuring electrode pair which is likewise fixed in the measuring tube section. The sensing voltage is proportional to the flow velocity of the fluid and thus proportional to the volumetric flow rate.

In this case, the measurement accuracy of a magnetic-inductive flow measuring device depends on a number of different factors. Some of these concern the construction itself, such as the positioning accuracy of the magnet system, or the reading of the measurement signals by at least one measuring electrode pair and the geometric arrangement of the electrode pairs; other factors are predetermined by the particular flow rate of the fluid and the physical characteristics of the fluid.

In principle, the measuring electrode should provide a sensitive and at the same time low-interference recording of the measuring signal. Typically, the measurement electrode consists of two parts: an electrode shaft located at least almost completely in the measuring tube wall; and an electrode head for coupling directly with the fluid and recording the measurement signal. The geometric arrangement of the electrode head can be pointed, for example, or have a mushroom head shape.

With regard to the arrangement of at least one measuring electrode pair in the measuring tube segment, the measuring electrodes should be opposite one another in the measuring tube and the connecting lines of the electrodes should be perpendicular to the tube axis and to the magnetic field.

In addition to these quite structural aspects, the electrical conductivity of the fluid, the prevailing flow pattern in the measuring tube and the flow velocity of the fluid play an important role in the accuracy of the measurement.

It is known from the prior art to use more than one measuring electrode pair, as disclosed for example in DE 102006014679 a 1. The reason for this approach is different in each case. However, the goal in all cases is to improve the measurement accuracy. In previously unpublished application No. 102013103211.7, filed on 28/3/2013, a magnetic-inductive flow measurement device with multiple measurement electrode pairs is described in the case where redundant sensing of induced voltages occurs. In this way, the signal-to-noise ratio, the ratio of the desired signal portion to the interfering signal portion in the measurement signal, is optimized. In other words, the measurement value scatter and the measurement deviation decrease.

Another method for improving the measurement accuracy consists in modifying the measurement tube towards such an object. For example, EP2600119a1 discloses a subdivision of a measuring tube into an inflow section, a measuring section and an outflow section, wherein the three measuring tube sections have different cross sections. In particular, a cross section smaller than the other two sections is selected for the measuring section. In particular, the cross section of the measuring section has a rectangular measuring tube contour. The reduced cross-section provides the advantage of an increased flow velocity of the fluid in the region of the measuring section.

The small flow rate results in a very small measurement signal. Furthermore, at small flow rates, the zero point instability can very strongly negatively affect the measurement. A greater flow velocity results in a stronger measurement signal due to greater charge separation caused by the magnetic field and correspondingly also increases the measurement accuracy.

On the other hand, very high flow rates lead to cavitation, which also negatively affects the measurement accuracy, so that with respect to the measurement accuracy it is advantageous to measure neither at very high nor at very low flow rates.

The conductivity shall also be referred to below. For fluids of low conductivity, the interference noise at the measuring electrode rises significantly more strongly than the desired signal with increasing flow velocity. It is therefore advantageous to avoid high flow rates in the case of fluids with low conductivity. For example for water, this holds for example for a conductivity of ≦ 20 μ S/cm.

Another important aspect concerns the flow patterns that are predominantly present in the measurement tube. This depends on the one hand on the reynolds number, which in turn depends on the flow rate, the geometry of the measuring tube and the surface roughness of its interior, on physical and/or chemical parameters of the medium, such as the viscosity, and on the inflow conditions of the fluid in the measuring tube before the measuring tube segment in which the measuring device is installed. The cross section of the measuring tube determines the flow velocity of the fluid at a given flow rate, respectively at a given volume flow rate. For very low flow rates, laminar flow patterns are generally present in the case of sufficiently long, straight, inflow sections of the measuring tube immediately adjacent to the measuring tube section. If the flow velocity, respectively the reynolds number, increases to a transition region in which the flow is susceptible to minimal disturbances, a turbulent flow pattern does not gradually exist until after a certain flow velocity.

In the measurement case, where the reynolds number is in the transition region between typical laminar and turbulent flows, high measurement deviations and measurement scatter occur. In this case, therefore, the possible measurement deviations are greater than in the case of laminar or turbulent flow patterns. It is therefore advantageous, in addition, to avoid such transition regions between laminar flow and turbulent flow when measuring the flow.

In summary, the measurement accuracy of a magnetic-inductive flow measurement is decisively determined as a function of the flow velocity of the cross section of the measuring tube.

Disclosure of Invention

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a device and a method for measuring a flow according to the magnetic induction measuring principle, wherein for each application the fluid flow velocity, on the basis of which the flow rate is determined, is within the optimal flow velocity range within the possible range.

The object according to the invention is achieved by a device for measuring the flow of a fluid through a measuring tube using the principle of magnetic induction measurement, which device comprises:

(I) a measuring tube having at least two segments adjoining one another in the flow direction of the fluid, wherein the diameters and/or the geometry of the cross-sectional areas of the segments differ,

(II) at least one magnet system having at least two coils for generating a magnetic field directed essentially perpendicular to the flow direction of the fluid,

(III) at least two measuring electrode pairs for sensing induced voltages, wherein at least one measuring electrode pair is arranged in a first section and a second measuring electrode pair is arranged in a second section, wherein each measuring electrode pair comprises a first and a second measuring electrode, wherein the measuring electrodes are opposite to each other in the measuring tube and the respective connecting lines of the measuring electrodes are perpendicular to the tube axis and to the magnetic field, and

(IV) an electronic unit for signal recording and/or evaluation and power supply of the coil, wherein the electronic unit is embodied such that it determines the flow velocity and/or flow rate of the at least one segmented fluid from the induced voltage.

Thus, the flow velocity in at least two segments of the measuring tube is different at a particular flow rate. Then, by various means described later, a segment in which the flow rate is within the optimum flow rate range can be selected.

It is advantageous when a memory unit, in which the experimentally determined or mathematically model calculated fluid-specific and/or measuring tube-specific parameters and/or characteristic curves are stored, is associated with the electronic unit, and the electronic unit is embodied such that it determines the flow pattern prevailing in each segment from the flow velocity and the segment cross section of the fluid according to the applied mathematical model and on the basis of the parameters and/or characteristic curves.

In a preferred embodiment, the electronics unit is also embodied such that it selects, to the extent possible, for the purpose of determining the flow, a section in which the predominantly present flow pattern lies outside the transition between laminar flow and turbulent flow.

In a further embodiment, the electronic unit is implemented such that, in order to determine the flow, it provides the flow velocities of the different segments with weighting factors adapted to the respective flow patterns, which are then averaged over the flow velocities in the different segments. Such a procedure enables to compare two values of the flow determined for different flow rates and to eliminate inaccuracies caused by too high or too low flow rates, respectively.

With regard to the influence on the conductivity of the fluid, which has been described above, it is advantageous to provide a sensor element for recording the conductivity of the fluid. The electronics unit should then be embodied such that for a fluid with a certain composition, in the case of a signal noise in the flow range relevant for the measurement which increases more significantly than the measurement signal with increasing flow velocity, in particular in the case of a fluid with a small electrical conductivity, a measuring electrode pair arranged in the segment with the largest cross section is used for measuring the flow.

When the measuring electrodes have different geometries, in particular a pointed, pin-shaped, cylindrical, conical or mushroom-head geometry. The different geometries affect the flowing fluid in different ways, since they project differently into the respective measurement tube segments with which they are associated. Thus, the prevailing flow pattern is influenced differently depending on the selected geometry of the measuring electrode. Furthermore, the choice of tipped geometry in the segment with the larger diameter prevents the formation of deposits in the case of susceptible media resulting from the lower flow velocities prevailing in the segment.

In a preferred embodiment, at least two measuring electrode pairs are mounted in at least one segment. In addition to measuring at segments with different cross-sections, this embodiment also allows redundancy and thus more accurate sensing of the measurement signal.

In a further preferred embodiment, the magnet system is configured such that it extends over all segments. Alternatively, a separate magnet system can be provided for each segment.

The object of the invention is furthermore achieved by a method for measuring a fluid flowing through a measuring tube using the principle of magnetic induction measurement,

(I) the measuring tube is composed of at least two segments which adjoin one another in the flow direction of the fluid, wherein the segments differ in diameter and/or cross-sectional geometry,

(II) in which a magnetic field is generated which is directed essentially perpendicularly to the flow direction of the fluid and which passes through the measuring tube,

(III) wherein the voltage induced in each segment is sensed, an

(IV) wherein for at least one segment, the flow velocity and/or flow rate of the fluid is determined from the induced voltage.

In this case, it is advantageous when the fluid-specific and/or measuring tube-specific parameters and/or characteristic curves stored in the memory unit, which are calculated on the basis of an experimentally determined or mathematical model, determine for each segment the predominantly existing flow pattern from the flow velocity of the fluid and the cross section of the segment according to the applied mathematical model.

Likewise, when determining the flow within the possible range, it is advantageous, on the one hand, to select a section in which the predominantly existing flow pattern is outside the transition region between laminar flow and turbulent flow, and, on the other hand, to not have too small or too large a flow velocity.

In a preferred embodiment for determining the flow, weighting factors adapted to the flow pattern are provided to the flow velocities of the different segments. The flow velocities of the different segments are then averaged using a weighting factor.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, at low flow rates, pairs of measuring electrodes are used which are arranged in the segment with the smallest cross section. The segment is the segment with the highest flow velocity. Therefore, the measurement accuracy is improved. In the case of water, for example, this applies to flow velocities of ≦ 10cm/s in the segments having the larger diameter.

In a similar way, in the case of high flow rates, it is advantageous to use a measuring electrode arranged in the segment with the largest cross section. Wherein the flow velocity is minimized so that the occurrence of cavitation, such as can occur in the case of a flow velocity of water of ≧ 12m/s, can be avoided. In the case of these flow velocities in the segment with the smaller diameter, the segment with the larger diameter can be used. In order that the gas bubbles which may occur in the case of cavitation do not lead to disturbances in the section with the larger diameter, the arrangement of the sections in the measuring tube with reference to the flow direction is preferably from the section with the larger diameter to the section with the smallest diameter.

Drawings

The invention will now be described based on the accompanying drawings, which show the following:

FIG. 1 is a magnetic-inductive flow measurement device according to the prior art;

FIG. 2 is a measuring device of the present invention having two segments of different cross-sections;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the dependence of measurement deviation on the prevailing flow pattern; and

fig. 4 is a block diagram of the method of the present invention for determining traffic in the arrangement of fig. 2.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 shows a magnetic-inductive flow measuring device 1 for measuring the flow of a fluid 2 flowing through a measuring tube 3. The measuring tube has an electrically insulating lining 4 over its entire length in the region facing the fluid, i.e. on the inside. There are shown two measuring electrode pairs 8,8 'for sensing the induced voltage and a magnet system 9, 9' schematically shown as two boxes. The magnet system comprises at least two coils for generating a magnetic field 10 and in an alternative embodiment of the invention also pole shoes for implementing an advantageous spatial distribution of the magnetic field. The respective connection axes of the measuring electrode pairs 8,8 'are each perpendicular to the connection axes of the magnetic field coils 9, 9' on opposite sides of the measuring tube.

The sensor unit with its respective components, such as the measuring electrode pair 8,8 'and the magnet system 9, 9', is usually at least partially enclosed by the housing 5. An electronics unit 6, which is connected to the field device via a connecting cable 7, is further arranged in the housing 5 or in the present case outside the housing 5. The electronics unit serves for signal recording and/or evaluation and for supplying power to the coil, and provides an environmental interface, for example for measurement value output or device regulation.

FIG. 2 shows, by way of example, a measuring tube 3 according to the invention with two segments, a first segment 11 having a large cross section d₁And the second section 11' has a small cross-section d₂. A preferred combination would be a nominal diameter of DN15 for the first segment 11 and DN8 for the second segment 11'. In the first segment 11a first measuring electrode pair 8 is positioned and in the second segment 11 'a second measuring electrode pair 8' is positioned. Of course, this is only an example of an embodiment. Other size combinations can be selected for the different segments 11, 11'. More than two segments 11,11 'can be used, or each segment 11, 11' can be mounted toOne further measuring

electrode pair

8a,8 a' is omitted.

FIG. 3 shows by way of example for a cross section having two cross sections d such as shown in FIG. 2₁And d₂With a correlation of the measured value deviation to the prevailing flow pattern or flow rate, of the Newtonian liquid of the two segments 11, 11', where d₁＞d₂. For low local flow velocities v, there is a laminar flow pattern, and for high flow velocities, there is a turbulent flow pattern. Between these two flow patterns, there is in each case a transition zone 12, 12'. Since the flow velocities and in particular the reynolds numbers in the two segments 11,11 ' are not equal for a given flow rate, the transition zones 12,12 ' of the two segments 11,11 ' are at different flow rates. Having a larger cross-section d₁In the first section 11 of (a) in a ratio d₂ ²/d₁ ²Ratio and having a smaller cross section d₂Is slow in the second section 11'. Thus, turbulence starts at a higher flow rate in the first segment 11, because the critical reynolds number is exceeded at the higher flow rate compared to segment 11'. Thus, the flow rate of the transition zone 12 of the first section is higher than the flow rate of the transition zone 12 'of the second section 11'. The considerations here depend mainly only on the flow rate. In fact, the determining factor of the flow pattern is the product of the flow rate and the diameter. However, because at a given flow rate, such as described above, the flow velocity is inversely proportional to the square of the diameter, the two variables are not independent of each other, and the change in flow velocity dominates the change in diameter, particularly with respect to the effect on the reynolds number.

Fig. 4 shows a block diagram of the method of the invention. The starting point is again the arrangement shown in fig. 2 with two segments 11,11 'and two measuring electrode pairs 8, 8'. For the example shown here, it is assumed that the transition zones 12,12 'shown in fig. 3 of the two segments 11, 11' do not overlap one another and are thus located in different intervals of the flow rate. Furthermore, the weights described above for determining the individual measurements of flow rate are lacking. However, in other cases this method step will be considered. Furthermore, for the sake of simplicity, the determination of the predominantly present flow pattern is not shown in this example.

According to the invention, the flow rates of the two segments 11, 11' are determined in a first step. Based on the fluid-specific parameters and/or characteristic curves stored in the memory unit, either experimentally determined or calculated by a mathematical model, the prevailing flow pattern can then in turn be derived from the flow rate. In a second step of the present example, the conductivity of the fluid is determined. According to the invention, such a procedure is not absolutely necessary, but in certain cases, in particular with fluids having a low conductivity, it improves the measurement accuracy. If the conductivity is low, a larger cross-section d is chosen₁Because in this case the signal noise dependent on the flow rate increases more strongly than the measurement signal as the flow rate increases.

For average and high conductivity, only the predominantly present flow pattern determines the choice of the segments 11, 11'. If the given flow rate is such that in the first section 11 (d)₁＞d₂) Where only low flow rates prevail, a smaller diameter d is selected₂And a second section 12 a. In this case, the flow velocity is at its maximum, but still in the laminar flow region. Thus, the accuracy of the measurement is improved. For low but slightly higher flow rates, the transition zone 12a starts at the second segment 11' (d)₂) So that it is selected to have a larger diameter d₁In which the flow pattern is considered laminar.

The opposite is true for the average flow rate. In the first section 11 (d)₁) In the transition zone 12, and in a zone with a smaller cross section d₂In the second section 11a, turbulence is already present. The second section 11 'is thus chosen because in this case the flow pattern is outside the transition zone 12, 12'.

For very high flow velocities, the flow pattern is turbulent in both sections 11, 11'. However, the air pockets are faster with a smaller cross section d₂So that the first segment 11 is selected (d)₁)。

The block diagram of fig. 4 can be extended as desired, for example when more than two segments 11,11 ' are used, when more than one measuring electrode pair 8,8 ' is provided in at least one segment 12,12 ', or when the transition zones 12,12 ' in different segments 11,11 ' are not within different flow rate intervals and thus an averaging has to be performed.

Identifier list

1 magnetic-inductive flow measuring device of the prior art

2 flowing fluid

3 measuring tube

4 electric insulating lining, inner lining

5 housing unit or housing

6 electronic unit

7 connecting cable

Measuring electrode pairs in the 8, 8'

segments

12,12

Other measuring electrode pairs in the segments 12, 12' of 8a,8a

9, 9' has at least two coils and, depending on the embodiment, also pole shoes, in particular a magnet system in one piece in the case of a one-piece embodiment or in one segment in the case of a multipart embodiment

Further magnet system in case of the 9a,9 a' multipart embodiment

10 direction perpendicular to the flow direction of the fluid and the respective connection axes of the measuring electrode pairs

11, 11' first segment (d)₁) A second section (d)₂)

12, 12' first transition zone, second transition zone

Claims

1. An apparatus (1) for measuring a flow of a fluid using magnetic induction measuring principles, comprising:

(I) a measuring tube (3), the measuring tube (3) having at least two segments (11,11 ') adjoining one another in the flow direction of the fluid, wherein the segments (11, 11') differ in diameter and/or geometry of the cross-sectional area,

(II) at least one magnet system (9,9 '), said magnet system (9, 9') having at least two coils for generating a magnetic field (10) directed essentially perpendicular to the flow direction of the fluid,

(III) at least two measuring electrode pairs (8, 8') for sensing an induced voltage,

wherein at least one measuring electrode pair (8) is arranged in a first segment (11) and a second measuring electrode pair (8') is arranged in a second segment,

wherein each measuring electrode pair (8, 8') comprises a first measuring electrode and a second measuring electrode,

wherein the measuring electrodes are opposite to each other in or on the measuring tube and the respective connecting lines of the measuring electrodes are perpendicular to the tube axis and to the magnetic field (10), an

(IV) an electronic unit (6) for signal recording and/or evaluation and for the supply of power to the coil,

wherein a memory unit is associated with the electronics unit (6), in which memory unit fluid-specific and/or measuring tube-specific parameters and/or characteristic curves determined experimentally or calculated by a mathematical model are stored,

wherein the electronic unit (6) is implemented to determine, for each segment (11, 11'), a flow speed and/or a flow rate of the fluid from the induced voltage,

wherein the electronic unit (6) is implemented to determine the predominantly existing flow pattern of each segment (11, 11') from the flow velocity of the fluid based on the parameters and/or characteristic curves according to the applied mathematical model,

wherein the electronic unit (6) is implemented to evaluate whether a transition region (12, 12') between laminar flow and turbulent flow of the measurement is present,

wherein the electronics unit (6) is embodied such that, for determining the flow rate, one of the segments (11,11 ') is selected in which the prevailing flow pattern is outside the respective transition region (12, 12') between laminar flow and turbulent flow.

2. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein,

wherein a sensor element is provided to record the electrical conductivity of the fluid, and wherein the electronics unit (6) is embodied such that, for a fluid with a certain composition, in the event of a more pronounced increase in signal noise in the flow range relevant for the measurement than the measurement signal with increasing flow velocity, a measuring electrode pair (8, 8') arranged in a segment (11) with the largest cross section is used for determining the flow.

3. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein,

wherein each measuring electrode has a different geometry.

4. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein,

wherein at least two measuring electrode pairs (8,8a,8a ', 8a ') are mounted in at least one segment (11,11 ').

5. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein,

wherein the magnet system (9,9 ') is configured to extend over all segments (11, 11').

6. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein,

wherein a separate magnet system (9,9a,9 ', 9a ') is provided for each segment (11,11 ').

7. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein,

wherein a sensor element is provided to record the electrical conductivity of the fluid, and wherein the electronic unit (6) is implemented to use, for a fluid with a certain composition, in the case of a fluid with a small electrical conductivity, a pair of measuring electrodes (8, 8') arranged in a segment (11) with the largest cross section for determining the flow rate.

8. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein,

wherein each measuring electrode has a pointed, pin-shaped, cylindrical, conical or mushroom-head geometry.

9. A method of measuring a flowing fluid using the principle of magnetic induction measurement,

(I) the measuring tube (3) is composed of at least two segments (11,11 ') which adjoin one another in the flow direction of the fluid, wherein the diameters and/or the geometry of the cross-sectional areas of the segments (11, 11') differ,

(II) in which a magnetic field (10) is generated and the direction of the magnetic field (10) is essentially perpendicular to the flow direction of the fluid and passes through the measuring tube (3),

(III) in which the voltage induced in each segment (11, 11') is sensed, an

(IV) wherein for each segment (11, 11'), a flow velocity and/or a flow rate of the fluid is determined from the induced voltage, respectively,

(V) wherein the flow pattern prevailing in each segment (11, 11') is determined from the flow velocity of the fluid on the basis of experimentally determined or mathematical model-calculated fluid-specific and/or measuring tube-specific parameters and/or characteristic curves stored in a memory unit, according to the applied mathematical model,

(VI) wherein for each segment (11,11 ') it is evaluated whether one of said measurements is in a transition zone (12, 12') between laminar flow and turbulent flow,

(VII) for determining the flow, one of the segments (11,11 ') is selected in which the predominantly existing flow pattern is outside the respective transition region (12, 12') between laminar flow and turbulent flow.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the first and second light sources are selected from the group consisting of,

wherein, in the case of a small flow rate, a measuring electrode pair (8 ') arranged in the segment (11') having the smallest cross section is used.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the first and second light sources are selected from the group consisting of,

wherein, at high flow rates, a measuring electrode pair (8) arranged in the section (11) with the largest cross section is used.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the first and second light sources are selected from the group consisting of,

wherein for a fluid with a certain composition, in the case of a signal noise in the flow range relevant for the measurement which increases more strongly than the measurement signal with increasing flow velocity, for determining the flow, a measurement electrode pair (8, 8') is used which is arranged in a segment (11) with the largest cross section.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the first and second light sources are selected from the group consisting of,

wherein for a fluid with a certain composition, in the case of a fluid with a small electrical conductivity, for determining the flow, a measuring electrode pair (8, 8') is used which is arranged in the section (11) with the largest cross section.